Or the day I became a Swifty.
So, Jan, Jackie, Laura, and I travelled to Wembley to experience Taylor Swift mania. Firstly, getting tickets was tricky to say the least. As a wheelchair user I telephoned the Wembley access line and requested a wheelchair ticket plus my companion ticket. That was fine. Part of the job done. The next part of the job was a little more complex. I hadn’t received a code in the ballot to buy tickets, and I required at least one additional ticket for a second carer to accompany me to London. Without a code I was unable to do so. The next possibility was to buy hospitality tickets. I tried to do so but was told that they were all sold, and I was therefore placed on a waiting list.
The saga continues. I was unsure what else I could do at this stage so I simply waited to see if anything would transpire. A couple of weeks later I received an email to inform me that some hospitality tickets had been released. I immediately clicked on the link given to me and was lucky enough to purchase two places in silver hospitality (after all, I should buy two as I could not let a carer be in hospitality on their own, could I?). This meant that I had spent quite a lot of money for the event but at least we were all in! Winner! So, to recap I was in standard, but top price, seats along with my carer, who ended up being Jan on the day. That meant that Jackie and Laura had the joys of silver hospitality! Lots of fun for all.
Come the day, we travelled down to London by train. A bacon roll and a small bottle of red wine made my journey very enjoyable. We were soon in King’s Cross and Passenger Assistance were there as usual, with a ramp to help me disembark the train. A taxi took us all to our hotel for a short rest and then another taxi ride took us to Wembley Stadium. A short walk from the taxi down Wembley Way and we had reached our destination. Jan and I made our way to our seats (which had a very good view of the stage by the way), and Jackie and Laura went to the Bobby Moore suite for their swanky silver hospitality which gave them great seats and a free drink and one free meal. Jan and I were a little jealous! But hey, we were all in, to see Taylor Swift on her Eras Tour, the hottest ticket in town!
From Wikipedia: “The Eras Tour is the ongoing sixth concert tour by the American singer-songwriter Taylor Swift. It commenced on March 17, 2023, in Glendale, Arizona and is set to conclude on December 8, 2024, in Vancouver, consisting of 149 shows that span five continents. It is the highest-grossing tour in history, becoming the first tour ever to surpass $1 billion in revenue, and has had a cultural and economic impact across the globe.
Swift announced the Eras Tour in November 2022, following the release of her tenth studio album Midnights (2022), as her second all-stadium tour after the 2018 Reputation Stadium Tour. Running over 3.5 hours, the set list of the Eras Tour consists of over 40 songs grouped into 10 distinct acts that portray all of Swift’s studio albums conceptually; the show was revamped in May 2024 to incorporate her then-new eleventh studio album, The Tortured Poets Department (2024).
The tour received praise from critics, who emphasized the concept, production, aesthetics, and immersive ambience, as Well as Swift’s vocals, stage presence, and versatile showmanship. It recorded unprecedented public demand, ticket sales and attendances, bolstering economies, businesses, and tourism worldwide, dominating social media and news cycles, and garnering tributes and accolades from governments and organizations.”
We arrived just in time to catch some of Paramore’s set. Paramore are an “American rock band formed in Tennessee, in 2004. Since 2017, the band’s lineup includes lead vocalist Hayley Williams, lead guitarist Taylor York, and drummer Zac Farro. Williams and Farro are founding members of the group, while York, a high school friend of the original lineup, joined in 2007. Williams is the only member to appear on all six of Paramore’s studio albums.” (From Wikipedia). I wasn’t familiar with Paramore’s music, but they were quite pleasant, rocky and Hayley Williams is a dynamic lead singer who delivers excellent strong vocals and owns the stage. A great start to the evening.
Paramore Setlist: Hard Times; Burning Down the House; Still into You; Forgiveness; Caught in the Middle; The Only Exception; Misery Business; Ain’t It Fun; This Is Why.
After a short break, during which I replenished myself with a tray of chips and a drink, it was time for the main act to take to the stage. To be perfectly honest, I didn’t know what to expect. I had come along largely because of the hype surrounding the tour and on Laura’s recommendation. Laura is a big Taylor Swift fan and knows all of her repertoire. I, to my shame, did not know any Taylor Swift songs at all! To say I was pleasantly surprised is a massive understatement. This was one of the best performances and concerts I have ever witnessed in my life. From the moment she took to the stage, Taylor Swift was magnificent, and the crowd reaction was unlike anything I have ever seen before in my life.
The introductory music was a favourite song of mine: “You Don’t Own Me” by Lesley Gore of “It’s My Party” fame. This was accompanied by a massive clock above the stage which counted us down until the big moment arrived and Taylor Swift appeared. The screams were deafening as she took to the stage and after every song throughout the set, which was over three hours long. I was whisked away on a journey through Taylor’s music. The set followed the eras of Swift’s career (see setlist below), and every song was catchy, magnificent pop music. In my mind I saw glimpses of country music, rock, and pop.
Her performance reminded me in some ways of Bruce Springsteen; in the way in which she interacted with the audience, the authenticity of her performance, and the length of the concert. Sure, the tickets may have been expensive, but they were worth every penny. We certainly got our monies worth. I also saw glimpses of the legendary Jackie DeShannon, which may be crazy, but go to YouTube and watch her performances of “When You Walk in the Room” and “Needles and Pins”, both of which were written by her and made famous in the UK by The Searchers. You may see what I mean; perhaps not. My mind works in strange ways.
Anyway, whatever the influences, Taylor Swift is her own person. Through my mind I thought of other great live performers I have seen over the years: Barbra Streisand, Michael Jackson, Bruce Springsteen, the Rolling Stones, Paul McCartney, and others. This performance easily equalled or exceeded each of them. Yes, she really was that great. The whole stadium became part of the performance. Let me explain. When we entered the stadium, we were each given a wristband, which lit up during the show. Some magical technology controlled the wristbands, and the colours changed during the evening.
One block of the stadium might be red, the next blue and so one around the venue. This would then change. The colours would swirl around Wembley, magically matching the colours of the stage set. Sometimes they would all flash; we were all individually part of the show.
At one point towards the end of her concert Taylor Swift was joined by Ed Sheeran to extra-large cheers from the crowd. “Ed Sheeran made a surprise appearance on stage with the pair duetting on ‘Everything Has Changed’ – a song written by Swift and Sheeran together in 2013” (BBC News). All of which added to the excitement of the occasion.
So, as we returned to find a taxi down Wembley Way (which took us over one hour), I was now a convert. By 1 AM we were in the hotel. Next morning the four of us had some breakfast, and soon we were on our train which took us back north and homeward bound. Another bacon butty accompanied by my usual small miniature of red wine, helped me on my way. Soon we were back home, all of us were now converted Swiftys. A wonderful day was had by all.
Taylor Swift Setlist by Eras:
Lover: Miss Americana & the Heartbreak Prince; Cruel Summer; The Man; You Need to Calm Down;
Lover.
Fearless: Fearless; You Belong with Me; Love Story.
Red: 22; We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together; I Knew You Were Trouble; All Too Well.
Speak Now: Enchanted.
Reputation: Ready for It?; Delicate; Don’t Blame Me; Look What You Made Me Do.
Folklore / Evermore: cardigan; betty; champagne problems; august; illicit affairs; my tears ricochet; Marjorie; willow.
1989: Style; Blank Space; Shake It Off; Wildest Dreams; Bad Blood.
THE TORTURED POETS DEPARTMENT:
Female Rage; The Musical; But Daddy I Love Him / So High School; Who’s Afraid of Little Old Me?; Down Bad; Fortnight; The Smallest Man Who Ever Lived; I Can Do It With correctly Broken Heart.
Surprise Songs: Everything Has Changed (with Ed Sheeran) / End Game / Thinking Out Loud; King of My Heart / The Alchemy.
Midnights: Lavender Haze; Anti‐Hero; Midnight Rain; Vigilante Shit; Bejeweled; Mastermind; Karma.
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